About Child Protection
Working together with families and communities to keep children and youth safe and well.
If you feel that a child or youth may be at risk of harm due to abuse or neglect, call us immediately. If you are uncertain … just call. We have trained staff who will listen to your concerns and gather information necessary to determine next steps.
In Simcoe and Muskoka call 1-800-461-4236
You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
When to call?
- If you are concerned about a child, youth or family in your community
- If you are struggling to find support to help with the care and safety of your children
- if you are a youth in need to support
What happens when I call?
A Child Protection Worker will listen to your concerns and assess the information received to determine the most appropriate steps to take. We may help to connect families with supports in the community. We will work with families and communities to address any issues that may pose a risk of harm to children/youth. We meet with children/youth, parents and others involved with families to listen to all voices and work collaboratively to make plans to ensure the safety and well being of children and youth.
Why contact us?
We all share a responsibility to protect children from harm.
Section 125 of the CYFSA states that the public, including professionals who work with children, must promptly report any suspicions that a child is, or may be, in need of protection to a children’s aid society (society).
Check out this Ontario Brochure about your Duty to report Child Abuse & Neglect: https://files.ontario.ca/pdf-3/mccss-report-child-abuse-and-neglect-en-2022-03-31.pdf
On January 1, 2018, Ontario raised the age of protection from 16 to 18. A professional, or member of the public, who is concerned that a 16-or 17- year-old is, or may be, in need of protection may, but is not required to, make a report to a CAS.
If you are a 16 or 17 year old and are looking for more information about services we offer:
If you are a youth-serving agency:
Our Service Principles
Services offered by SMFC are guided by our guiding principles. When you receive services from our agency you should expect our approach to follow these principles.
